Bride & groom outdoors embracing while looking at the camera

Real wedding: First love

First love, everlasting love If you can survive as a couple through those late teenage years – those years of self-growth and discovery – and you come through the other end still wanting to be together, then the likelihood is…

Real wedding: First love
Bride Kathryn & groom Colin surrounded by their guests in Oran Mor's auditorium

Real wedding: T in the Park…

T in the Park led to Party at the Oran Mor As huge fans of live music, Colin and Kathryn certainly did their research when it came to choosing a band for their special day. Sadly there were no wedding…

Real wedding: T in the Park…
Charlotte & Jack exiting the church, as their guests throw confetti

Real wedding: Camaraderie…

Camaraderie was the order of the day By sheer coincidence, serving soldiers, Jack and Charlotte, chose a former serviceman to marry them. In a previous life, humanist celebrant Robbie Sharpe served in the Royal Air Force and, although they ultimately…

Real wedding: Camaraderie…
Photo of Andrew & Callum after they're married, taken in the grounds of Enterkine House

Real wedding: Love is love…

Love is love in the heart of Ayrshire As strong supporters of local businesses, it was a no-brainer that Andrew and Callum would choose to get married at a venue local to them. They were both wowed by the recently…

Real wedding: Love is love…
A couple lighting a unity candle

Unity candle

A unity candle is a symbolic way of showing the joining of a couple in marriage.  You will each light a candle representing you as two individuals – ‘twin flames’ – usually before you make your legal declarations. After you…

Unity candle
A photo of a quaich

Quaich

A quaich is a Scottish two-handled drinking cup, often referred to as the cup of life. Drinking from the quaich is one of many wedding rituals often included in humanist wedding ceremonies. The history behind it Drinking from a quaich…

Quaich
Wedding rings tied together with tartan ribbon

Wedding band warming

If you’re exchanging rings as an outward symbol of your love for one another, you can choose to have them ‘warmed’ first. The symbolism of a wedding band warming ceremony is that your wedding rings have been ‘warmed’ forever by…

Wedding band warming
One of our celebrants performing a handfasting ceremony with a same sex couple

Handfasting

Handfasting is an ancient celtic marriage ritual and is thought to be where the expression ‘tying the knot’ came from. This is one of the most popular symbolic gestures, or rituals, in humanist wedding ceremonies. It even featured in popular…

Handfasting
Completed sand art following a sand ceremony

Sand ceremony

A sand ceremony is a unique way to symbolise two lives becoming one, or the blending of families in a wedding ceremony. It’s also a beautiful way of symbolising the strength of a family unit in a naming ceremony. The…

Sand ceremony
A couple clasping an oathing stone

Oathing stone ritual

Humanist wedding ceremonies often include symbolic gestures, or rituals. The oathing stone is a great alternative to handfasting, since this ritual is also typically performed while exchanging vows. The history behind it This ancient ceremony is rooted deeply in the…

Oathing stone ritual
Ring exchange during handfasting ceremony

Wedding ceremony rituals

Some people want a very simple ceremony, but others just aren’t sure about the possibilities or what sort of wedding rituals are out there. If that’s you then read on!

Wedding ceremony rituals